Great to hear that. I was worried that it wasn't getting any water and so the leader was growing horizontally. Thanks!

how long in that spot ... all trees should be pretty much free range on water a year or two after planting ... especially the aggressively rooted maple family ...

the default would be the beast is growing so fast.. it cant hold up fresh new growth.. but usually it strengthens as the season progresses ..

of course.. if it were a recent transplant ... especially out of prime planting season .. dormancy.. water could have been an issue ... but that would show more as droopy leaves.. not droopy leaders ..

i hope its not as close to those utility lines as the camera makes it look

ken

New spring growth on JM's is often very floppy and whippy. The wood takes time to mature and stiffen up. Some cultivars develop this type of growth more aggressively than others. It's of no consequence.

Broad generalizations are rarely helpful. fwiw, JM's do not have aggressive roots - most of the Asian side of the family does not. And I would never consider them to be "free range" at all, as they are not the slightest bit drought tolerant and will benefit from a good deep watering during any extended dry spells.

I also wouldn't worry much about trying to maintain a leader. Once a JM begins to develop some significant scaffold branching - as the above tree has done - the importance of any leader is moot as the tree develops into a typical spreading, multi-stemmed form.

@ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5 The tree has been in that spot since August 2020. I kept it well watered using a gator bag and kept it mulched (no mulch near the trunk though). The picture is deceptive, it is not close to the utility lines (i was careful about that!). It’s planted high at the top of a slope, so it doesn’t sit in water when it rains.

@gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9) Thank you, I was hoping the new growth just hadn’t hardened off yet. This tree grew at least 1.5ft so far this Spring! It’s such a lovely JM that I now want to plan another...just need to find the space!

"I was worried that it wasn't getting any water"

If i was worried something of mine wasn't getting enough water I'd... water it.

Unless I am not understanding?

It's been rainy here and the soil is moist, but the new growth is floppy so my only guesses were 1. Needs more water (this is my first time growing a tree) 2. It's sick or 3. I'm fretting. So when in doubt, I turn to the experts here :)